The arrangement for the workers to stay and work at the factory helps the enterprise maintain its stable production

This is an “unprecedented” creative solution that ensures right, successful and effective epidemic control, and does not let the Covid-19 pandemic disrupt the global linkage chain and break the economy.

According to the information from Bac Ninh Industrial Zones Authority, as of June 13, in the industrial zones, 779 enterprises registered to operate under the direction of the Provincial People’s Committee on arranging for the workers to stay and work at the factories, with nearly 123,000 workers.

During the period from 01 June to 11 June, 40 Working groups of the province urgently inspected and instructed the safety conditions for epidemic prevention and control at 433 enterprises. According to the evaluation results, 19% of enterprises were evaluated to perform well; 47% of enterprises were at good level; 29% of enterprises were at average level; 6% of enterprises were at weak level.

The inspection shows that most enterprises have been proactive and creative in building the options and plans and complying with the province’s regulations on epidemic prevention and control. The Working group promptly guided and supported the enterprises that were still confused in the implementation and required immediate improvement to ensure “6 safety” (Production safety, fire prevention and fire fighting safety, COVID-19 safety, food safety, security and order, peace of mind for production”.

By implementing the solutions for the workers to stay and work at the factory, Ojitex Hai Phong Co., Ltd in Bac Ninh (VSIP) - Japanese enterprise, specializing in manufacturing high-grade packaging maintains its continuous production. The company rents rest houses, hotels for 288 workers to stay and provides pick-up cars to ensure the regulations; provides additional support of 50,000 VND/person/day and supports 3 meals/day, increases the rations, ensures nutrition, improves resistance for epidemic prevention and control and work performance. For the number of workers who are temporarily off work, the Company only pays the basic salary. Mr. Joshitaka Nagakawa, Factory Manager said: “The permission for the workers who stay and work at the factory is an ideal solution to help the enterprise preserve its human resources to maintain the production activities well, with reached output of about 90% compared to before the epidemic, meeting the needs of partners”.

Mr. Ho Nghia Tai (from Nghe An), an office staff of PANTOS Logistics Vietnam Co., Ltd (VSIP) said: We are arranged with accommodation and meals and met all the essential living needs when staying at the factory. In addition to salary, the Company supports an additional part of the cost and provides 3 free meals/day. But I think that, in the context of the current epidemic situation, it is very good when the Company can maintain the production activities and I also have a job and stable income. Although I miss my family so much, I will continue to stay at the factory to jointly implement the Company’s production plan.

Implementing the direction of the province, the enterprises have coordinated with the local authorities and owners of the boarding-houses/hostels/concentrated residences to sign the commitment in order to ensure the conditions for epidemic prevention and control, install cameras at the entrance and exit positions, corridors to control the entrance and exit. Mr. Nguyen Phuong Hoang, owner of Thao Nguyen rest house, Doi Soc Area, Phu Chan ward, Tu Son town (the concentrated residence of the workers of Ojitex Hai Phong Co., Ltd in Bac Ninh) said: The family signed the commitment with the local authority on the management of workers; daily, cleaning and disinfecting the entire rest house and reminding the staying workers to strictly comply with the regulations on epidemic prevention and control, not to gather and exchange between the rooms. In general, the people here follow the regulations very well.

Currently, the Covid-19 epidemic in the province has been controlled, many localities have loosened the social distancing, in accordance with the Directives 15 and 19 of the Prime Minister. In order to create favorable conditions for the production and business of the enterprises, on 15 June 2021, the Provincial Steering Committee for Covid-19 Epidemic Prevention and Control issued the Decision No. 208/QD-BCD Stipulating temporarily on ensuring safety for the prevention and control of Covid-19 epidemic in the new situation in the area, starting to apply from June 20. In which, specifying the responsibilities of the production and business establishments, workers, owners of the boarding-houses/hostel management boards/concentrated residences, business households, service providers, functional sectors, local authorities in each area implementing the Directives No. 15, 19, normal state and the Directive 16 of the Prime Minister.

The regulation has received the support, agreement from the functional sectors, local authorities and enterprises in the province.

Mr. Joshitaka Nagakawa, Factory Manager of Ojitex Hai Phong Co., Ltd in Bac Ninh (VSIP) said: The enterprise agrees and will strictly implement the regulations. In which, organize PCR test for the workers who are staying in the concentrated residences and the workers who are staying in the boarding-houses. Then, the quick tests will be organized for all workers of the company so that the workers who are staying can go home and the workers who are staying in the boarding-houses can go back to work. For the workers outside the province, they will continue to stay at the company’s residence. Every week, will continue to test and screen from 20 - 50% of the workers as regulated.

In order to prepare the favorable conditions for the workers to return to work at the factories but still ensure the effective performance of epidemic prevention and control work, the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Huong Giang requested the relevant departments, branches and localities to coordinate in receiving and handling the petitions of the enterprises, especially related to the workers and vehicles passing through the COVID-19 epidemic checkpoints/stations in the spirit of maximum support within the permitted scope. At the same time, provide specific instructions to the enterprises and workers, strictly manage going to work, arrange shift meals and carry out tests for the workers and employees within their management.

In which, for the factories located in the areas implementing the Directives 15 and 19 of the Prime Minister and other safe areas where the social distancing measures are not applied, the workers and employees are allowed to travel by their personal vehicles but must carry worker’s card, commit to the company that they only go from the workplace to the place of residence/boarding room. The workers and employees who are residing in the areas implementing the Directive 16 must have concentrated staying places (hotels, rest houses, schools, in factories,...) at the same time, the enterprises must arrange the separate working areas…